The Evostick Premier leaders were left to rue a marvellous performance by Adam Rafis in goal for Redbridge who at times single-handily kept them from running riot at the Oakside.

The game may have ended goalless but there was as much action in the game as a 7-goal thriller in the Premier League and it was certainly a game that the bumper-crowd of 465 who attended the game will remember for many years to come. It had everything, shots, great saves, an ‘electric’ atmosphere, simply everything you could ask for in a football game, well everything bar goals of course!

Oxford started the game well and Adam Learoyd forced Adam Rafis into a save inside the first minute to set the ongoing story-line plot of the game. Redbridge though looked to start brightly as well and good play from Joe Gardner sent in Nathan Gordon into the area, but the hard-working winger frustratingly saw his shot blocked by his marker James Clark and the chance for the hosts to get an early breakthrough was gone.

After both sides shared the best of the opening 15 minutes, Oxford began to control the game more and looked dangerous up front. Redbridge to their credit were working hard and did well to keep more than a dozen long-throws into the area by Andy Ballard from creating trouble with keeper Rafis and his central defenders Glen Golby and Matt Turpin having to use every ounce of strength and height to make sure every testing throw was headed away from danger.

On the break Redbridge were unable to control much of the ball in the first half. It may have been down to nerves which of course was understandable given the circumstances but it was pleasing to see the forwards in Gardner and his strike-partner the powerful Ryan Murray track back to win possession. Murray had a half-chance to score from a Ben Bradbury cross but spectacularly struck his over-head kick over the bar and behind into the fields behind the far-end goal at the Oakside.

As the half wore on, Oxford looked in complete control and still looked threatening from Ballard’s long-throws which were very much on a par with Stoke City’s Rory Delap. Rafis and his defence were doing just about enough to deal with them. Rafis was called into action at his feet just before half-time when he blocked Oxford’s Brazilian striker Felipe Barcelos through on goal after the nifty striker had skipped away from Turpin after being put through by Declan Benjamin.

Benjamin very nearly put the visitors ahead four minutes before half-time but saw a long-range shot from fully 25 yards out strike the post with Rafis well-beaten. It was a major bit of luck for the Motormen who in a way had deserved to go into half-time level just for managing to weather the storm that Oxford had created.

HT Redbridge 0 Oxford City 0

Rafis was quickly into action after the restart doing well to save a shot from Wayne Blossem from a Barcelos corner three minutes into the half as Oxford continued to put Redbridge under severe pressure. The hosts inspired on by their support continued to battle doing well to block, head and thwart a wave of Ballard long-throws and a range of corners and dangerous balls into the area.

After being denied by a post in the first-half, Benjamin was denied a goal by a fantastic reaction save by Rafis at the back-post who somehow reacted to stop the midfielder’s volley from a deflected cross from the left by Jack Ashton.

With around 25 minutes to go, Spillane made his first change of the afternoon brining on James Robinson for the hard-working Gordon who had literally worked himself into the ground with a tireless performance. Robinson slotted up top with the powerhouse Murray with the adaptable Gardner slotting onto the wing, a position that he has proved already this season that he is comfortable in playing in.

In the final quarter of the game, there was a sense that another tiny sparkle of FA Cup magic was going to go the way of one of the teams but somehow both teams blew chances until the game ended in controversial circumstances. First Oxford’s former-Leyton Orient forward Lee Steel was thwarted by Rafis before Barcelos fired wide at the near post inside the six-yard box.

Redbridge though sensing that it was their day, put the visitors under immense pressure late on but unfortunately in a crowded penalty area Dan Trenkel headed over after Oxford couldn't clear a long Vinnie Durrant free-kick before Gardner saw a shot blocked which forced a corner deep into added time. Durrant whipped the ball in but as the giant Turpin headed the ball into the net, the assistant on the far-side immediately much to the frustration of Redbride's supporters ruled out the goal out due to Gardner impeding on Ketih McCloughin in goal for Oxford.

It was a cruel way for the game to end for the Motormen, but they had battled hard and perhaps it was fair that both teams live to fight another day in the world's greatest cup competition. If Redbridge can travel to Cambridge City and win, there's no reason wny Spillane's side can't go to Oxford and do the same. Anything can happen.

Redbridge: Adam Rafis, Matt Turpin, Vinnie Durrant, Jamie Haywood, Glen Golby, Dan Trenkel, Ben Bradbury (Shane Stamp 90), Daniel Hopkins, Ryan Murray, Joe Gardner, Nathan Gordon (Keke St Hilare 86).

Click here for Adam D's interview with our manager Terry Spillane from after the game.

Click here for Adam D's interview with our manager first-team coach Jody Brown from after the game.

Click here for Adam D's interview with our goalkeeper and undisputed man-of-the-match Adam Rafis from after the game.

Click here for Adam D's interview with West Brom's defender Nicky Shorey (and friend of Jody Brown) who as at the game to support the lads on a rare-day off for the former England left-back.